The Sunday Mail
THIS week, two high profile South African artistes – Ringo Madlingozi and Zahara – will jet into the country for two separate shows that are set to split Harare’s music loving populace.
Zahara
Madlingozi joins superstar Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi at his Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton for the Tuku Music at 40 celebrations while Zahara headlines the Star FM People’s Choice Awards to be held at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC).To spice up the two events, Jah Prayzah and Suluman Chimbetu will be supporting acts at both shows. Of course, the Star FM People’s Choice Awards will have a plethora of radio as well as club DJs on rotation.For the Tuku Music at 40 show, there will be a number of other artistes, among them Munya Mataruse, Diva Mafunga, Donald Kanyuchi, Sebastian Magacha and Chiedza Chevatendi.
While Tuku’s camp has promised a “unique show where 40 years will be packaged into one night”, Zahara is coming to Harare to “launch her latest album to her legion of fans who have supported her since day one”.
Biggie Chinoperekwei of Devine Assignments, the company that has partnered Star FM for the People’s Choice Awards this Saturday, says “there was no way the South African songbird could have disappointed her millions of fans in Zimbabwe by not officially launching her latest album in Harare”.“This event is multifaceted. For starters, we have the People’s Choice Awards, which attract high profile businesspeople of this country, musicians, sportspersons, philanthropists, socialites and even men of God.
“Apart from that, we have Zahara coming in to launch her latest album ‘Country Girl’ in Harare, a city where she has enjoyed immense support since her first visit a few years ago. Zahara is bringing her full band and will be ably supported by the finest in Zimbabwe in the form of Jah Prayzah and Sulu. It does not get any better than that,” said Chinoperekwei.Zahara herself has dropped a video on all her social network platforms confirming her gig in the capital. In the video drop, the darling of the South African music industry, whose latest album went gold within 24 hours of release, sings her latest song “Imali” and goes on to confirm the December 5 gig.Her debut album “Loliwe” which was released in 2011, earned double platinum status, with over 100 000 copies sold just 17 days after its release.
Oliver Mtukudzi
Zahara, born Bulelwa Mkutukana in the Eastern Cape, is a recipient of several awards, among them the “Best Female Artiste” and “Album of the Year”. She also won Song of the Year at the 2011 Metro FM Awards for her smash hit, ‘Loliwe’.
On the other hand, Pakare Paye Arts Centre may be in Norton but the star power of Tuku, Ringo and their supporting acts may prove too much to resist for most Hararians.
Said Taka Mashonganyika, the coordinator of the Tuku Music at 40: “There is so much excitement from Zimbabweans outside the country who want to come for the show. We have many artistes from the region and beyond who are gracing this event to celebrate our icon, the visionary, the man who built us a home, Pakare Paye Arts Centre, where we will all fit in in our thousands.
“I have seen mukoma (Tuku) mature with age. I urge people to come in their numbers and celebrate his great works created over the last four decades.”
Pakare Paye is one of Tuku’s greatest achievements with restaurants, recording facilities, concert halls, accommodation and rehearsal rooms, etcetera; which is why the superstar is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his entry into music at the majestic facility.The multi-million dollar arts centre is also a training facility for up and coming artistes across all artistic genres, not just music.
Tuku’s journey from 1975 to 2015 has also made him one of Zimbabwe’s most recognised voices internationally.He boasts 63 albums with “Mukombe Wemvura” being the latest.
As far as art is concerned, Tuku has been there and done that – he has several films and documentaries under his belt and has tens of accolades awarded both locally and internationally. Just recently, he showcased his fashion side when he launched his Hai-Kobo shoe range before plunging into the clothing industry where he mostly showcased his stage costumes at this year’s Zimbabwe Fashion Week.Ironically, while a tussle for music fans between the Devine Assignments-led HICC team and the Pakare Paye crew is inevitable come Saturday, Star FM is a partner in both events and will be broadcasting live from both venues.In an interview, Star FM general manager Comfort Mbofana said the partnerships prove that Star FM is the leading station in the land as tabled by a recent independent survey by the Zimbabwe Advertising Research Foundation.
“Demand for our services has grown and continues to grow. While the People’s Choice Awards came out of a need where we want people to nominate and select winners without a panel of judges that can easily be swayed, how can we not support and honour an icon like Tuku by partnering him.”On the awards themselves, Mbofana said the event “is for the people, designed by the people because Star FM is a people’s radio and our motto of taking radio to the people is beginning to pay off”.
He added: “Our listeners select the candidates and also vote for the eventual winners. We have the most wonderful listeners and we are looking forward to conquering not only Zimbabwe but the world.”
Who will own Saturday night – Tuku or Zahara? It is only six days to go, so time will definitely tell.
